Badrinath Dham
Geographic Details of Badrinath
Area: 4.5 Sq.kms
Altitude: 3133 MTS.
Rainfall:1460 m
Temperature: Summer - Max 17.9° C, Min 5.9° C, Winter- Generally snowbound from December to March
Best Season: April to November.
Clothing: woolen garments required throughout.
Badrinath Dham Accessibility Air: Nearest airport is a Jolly grant, 314kms.
Rail: Nearest railhead is Rishikesh, 297kms.
Road: Badrinath is connected by road with important places like Rishikesh, Delhi (518Kms), Kotdwar, Dehradun.
Badrinath Dham is one of the oldest of Hindu places of worship. On the right bank of the river Alaknanda lies the sacred shrine perched at an altitude of 3133 m above sea level, guarded on either side by the two mountain peaks Nar & Narain with the towering Neelkanth peak providing a splendid back-drop. Also known as the Vishal Badri, the largest among the five Badris, it is revered by all as the apt tribute to Lord Vishnu.
BADRINATH TEMPLE:
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it is built in the form of a cone with a small cupola of a gilt bull & spire. Legend dates the temple prior to the vedic age and the original temple is believed to be built by King Pururava and the icon of the lord carved by Vishwakarma, the creator of gods. A Hindu reformist Adi Shankaracharya re-enshrined the temple back in 8th century. A flight of steps takes pilgrims to the main gate & then into the temple. The temple is divided into three parts - the 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum, the 'Darshan Mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'Sabha Mandap' where devotees assemble. The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold offered by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. The complex has 15 idols. especially attractive is the one-metre high image of Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose-padmasan.
Special pujas are also performed on behalf of individuals. Every puja must be preceded by a holy dip in the Tapta Kund. Some of the special morning pujas are Abhishek, Mahaabhishek, Geeta Path. Some special evening pujas are Aarti & Geet Govind. Such pujas are to be booked in advance. The temple opens at 0430 hrs & closes at 1300 hrs. Once again it opens at 1600 hrs & closes at 2100 hrs after the divine song Geet Govind. Rawal is the administrator-Pujari of the temple well versed in puja ceremonials & Sanskrit language and is expected to be celibate.
Place to Visit in Badrinath /Sightseeing/Excursions
Badri Vishal: Main shrine of Lord Badrinath ji is known as 'Badrinath'.Bhavishya Badri: The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an elevation of 3641 m, and is surrounded by dense forests located at Subain near Tapovan. It is believed that a day will come when the present route to Badrinath will become inaccessible then Lord Badrinath will be worshiped here. Hence the name 'Bhavishya Badri', which literally means the "Future Badri".
Yogdhyan Badri: The temple of Yog Dhyan Badri, one of the five Badris is located at Pandukeshwar (1920 m), just 24 km short of Badrinath.
Vridha Badri: Situated at an altitude of 1380 m and at a distance of 7 km from Joshimath is Animath, the place where several centuries before the advent of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath was enshrined and worshiped.
Adi-Badri: Adi-Badri is 19 km away from Karanprayag on Chaukuthia Ranikhet road.
TaptKund: Tapt kund is a natural hot water pool fed by a sulfur spring which is said to be the abode of Agni, the god of fire. The Alakananda flows swiftly just below these kunds and the boiling water falls into the icy waters of the river giving rise to clouds of steam. This water has a temperature of 130 degrees C.
Narad Kund: A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badrinath idol was recovered.
Brahama Kapal: To the north of Sri Badrinath Dham temple is the spot known as Brahma Kapal where Lord Brahma is said to reside.
Sheshnetra: is better known as the Sheshnag’s eye (Shesh meaning Sheshnag and Netra meaning eye).
Charanpaduka: It is said that when Lord Vishnu descended from Vaikunth he stepped on this boulder.
